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My parents influence my career choice by telling me to be sure to study something that I could earn a living at. Somewhat still undecided upon my arrival to college, my friends father also concurred with my folks saying, “I picked my major by looking at the classified adds and picking the job in highest demand. Hence, I graduated with a degree in Electrical Engineering. I was proud to follow in the footsteps of my father and his brother Bernie who were both engineers.

With Ronald Regan rebuilding our military, we all got jobs 6 months before graduating.

My father passed early and left the family without his influence, so I don’t know much about his engineering career. I know that he worked for the Army weapons program at Picatinny Arsenal in Morris County, New Jersey. As the largest employer in the county, many people always told me of his hard work and accomplishments. President Kennedy in 1961 flew a few Picatinny families to Washington to, through the Secretary of the Army, read us his praise for dad “contributing to the defense of the United States.” Dad’s brother, my uncle Bernie also told me some of my dad’s exploits in a secret “Ghost Army” in WW II. So, I guess family secrets need to be uncovered, and much of this blog is what I’ve learned about my dad’s life. During this journey, I’ve learned the most amazing things and have developed a strong interest in the development of atomic weapons (1935-1962), the early cold war years(1946-1954 including the origins of Taiwan), the Korean War (1950-53), and the Ghost Army of WWII(1943-1945). 

So, I hope you will find some part of this website interesting to you. There will be pertinent information on Atomic weapons and a lot of Cold War information. As an avid NFL fan and historian, I’ll also add some interesting information about the history of the NFL during the 1930s-1950s.

 I would be remiss if I didn’t mention Rick Beyer, who I met along my journey of learning about my dad’s WWII service.  Rick is a writer and film producer that has dedicated much time and energy to the Ghost Army. Through his books, film, and lobbying efforts, my dad and the rest of his Ghost division just was approved by the Senate for a Congressional Gold Medal in Dec 2021

Questions, Comments, General Inquires?

If you have any thoughts or questions concerning the blogs written on this site please contact us at coldwargiants@gmail.com We would be happy to listen. Thank you for sharing.

About Cold War Giants

Cold War Giants is a family story that contains much historical truth about the Army career of my father, Irving Mayer, in both World War 2 and the Cold War. As the son of immigrant parents Irv and his brother Bernie were part of America’s “greatest generation”. They wanted to achieve the American dream, but also had a profound love for the United States, the country their parents struggled to get to from Poland and Argentina.

While Irv just recently was voted a Congressional Gold Medal for his top secret service in WWII, this website focus’ on his career after the war. Irv worked for US Army Ordnance Corps in the development of the first ground launched atomic weapon. Headed by Robert Schwartz, a small group of men, I call “Cold War Giants” accomplished what was deemed impossible by Pentagon engineers.

This site will cover many of the issues leading to the start of the Cold War between the USSR and the USA. Both published and unpublished photos of the development of Atomic Artillery will be posted. The interplay of the major world events between 1949 to 1953 will be discussed including the formation of the United Nations, the Chinese Civil War, the Korean Conflict and the Soviet Atomic Bomb.

Irv, as part of a team of scientists at Picatinny Arsenal, headed by Robert M. Schwartz (US Army Hall of Fame at the National Museum of the US Army in Fort Belvoir, Virginia) developed the world first ground launched, mobil tactical atomic bomb, and a series of weapons for the US Army infantry. These weapons ended up in East Germany and Korea and were key deterrents to any communist advances.

In 1961 President John Kennedy brought Robert Schwartz’s family and a couple others, including mine, to Washington DC to present these men with a special award and thank them for “their contributions to the defense of the United States.”

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Atomic Annie covers a range of fascinating history, including the development of the atomic bomb, the history of Picatinny Arsenal, the Ghost Army, great NFL games, and the Korean War.

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